The Gathering Place

Pierce and I have been enjoying the warm water and fun waves.  I am not much of a bodysurfer or womper, but I love splashing around, being silly and floating in the waves.

It was a funky day and we just needed to get wet, so we hopped in at a place we call 'Dang-ers'.

My mom and dad came to visit and we had a great time showing them around the island.  Some of the highlights were La Mariana, Ko' Olina Lagoons, Waialua, Haleiwa and Kaena Point (well as close as we could get).

Dad, mom and myself at the park by Kaena Point (it's in the background).

Before my mom had to get on the plane and head home, we made sure to make time to hit up the lagoons at Ko' Olina.  We spent the morning floating in the calm waters, looking at fishies and swimming around.  It was a great way to send her off.

Panoramic view of one of the Ko'Olina Lagoons.

After dropping off mom (dad stayed on for another week) at the airport we headed into Kaka'ako to check out the POW WOW Hawaii artwork.  Each year a group of street artists are invited to create large murals, pieces of art during the week long festival.  We stopped by a few days later for the closing night party and to see the finished pieces.  Absolutely incredible.

One of the walls being worked on.

The evening of the closing night party we met up with our friend Gui and his lovely fiance Andressa at the best Indian restaurant on the island (if not the United States), Cafe Maharani.  There was already a line out front when we pulled up at 4:50pm (they open at 5).  If you're not the first ones there, you will be waiting quite a while for a seat.

This place is no joke.  Well worth any wait :)

This past Sunday we headed to Haleiwa to check out the farmers market, but unfortunately for us it was not going on this particular week (not sure if it was rain related, or just bad luck).

The good news was, Ray's was up and running, so we grabbed a whole chicken, rice and pineapple slaw and found a table out of the rain to enjoy the tasty goodness.  Ray's is a must eat on the North Shore.  It is the moistest chicken ever, with perfect crispy skin.

Ray's rotisseries working double time.

The thing I have been into lately is collecting seaglass.  I guess that swirling vortex of garbage out in the Pacific is good for one thing, gorgeous seaglass.

My hopes are to pass the goodies along to my friends who can use it.  It's a lot of fun and it gives me something to do while Pierce is getting barreled.

This is one trip worth.  I am working on filling a ziploc sandwich bag :)

The weather has been amazing the past few days, so we have been taking advantage of it.  We have been out bike riding and breathing in the island.  With only a month left, we are trying to make each day count.

Rain or Shine

In the last two weeks we have experienced 40 foot waves, pouring rain and the usual gorgeous sunsets.

Sunset at Sunset Beach (properly named).

Around sunset time we are usually out biking or taking a walk on the beach, just trying to take in all of the beauty that the island has to offer.

Short walk back to our place.

When the waves were really big this last week we were unable to take our beach walks or get in the water at most places. While regulated to the sidewalks and overlooks we enjoyed the chaos along with everyone else on the island.  Tons of tourists and news programs showed up from town to join in on the fun.

Unfortunately, the 'SUPER SWELL' didn't have enough consistency to run The Eddie (big wave competition), so we will wait in hopes.  Still 3+ weeks left in the waiting period.  Fingers crossed.

John John Florence filming at Sharks Cove during the 'SUPER SWELL'.

Pierce and I, along with tons of others, enjoying the large waves crashing into the reef.  We ended up having to run away from this area when a huge set came through.

One of the best and possibly worst things about where we are staying is its proximity to Ted's Bakery.  We have enjoyed many meals from this fine establishment.  We haven't found one item on the menu that we wouldn't eat again.  On the top of the list; fried chicken, donuts, cornbread and shoyu chicken plate lunch.

First slice of Haupia pie.  Looking forward to our next one.

As a result of this large swell many of the beaches lost a lot of sand, leaving reef and rock exposed in places where it normally is not, leaving some breaks vulnerable to change.

Looking north of Keiki Beach.  The stairs were ripped out by the force of the waves.

The weekend before last we had the great pleasure of hanging out at some of the West side beaches.  Since conditions were not ideal for bodysurfing at the rendezvous spot (Makaha) this particular morning we all decided to move on to another locale, but before that occurred the SUP Squatches showed up.  Pierce and I happily sat back and watched the show unfold before us.  It was a riot to watch and we were guaranteed not to get a paddle to the face.

The SUP Squatch crew.

Once the SUPing concluded we went around the corner to Yokohama Bay, where conditions weren't much better, but it was nice to be able to experience another new beach.  Once we were all set up it was straight into cooking; chicken katsu, garlic shrimp, fried rice and much, much more.

I ended up eating so much pork fried rice that I went into a food coma on the sand right next to the rice wok.

Although Ted's has gotten it's grip on us we are trying to eat healthy and enjoy the goodies the island can provide.  The fresh bananas and green papaya salad have been two of my favorites.

Granola, yogurt and banana.

Our bunch of bananas.  Cut down by Pierce, provided by our friends tree.

Exposed petroglyphs at Keiki Beach.

The rain is tricky here.  Sometimes it will be sunny and no wind and you get a nice drizzle, other times it turns dark and the skies open up, and the trick is it can change from one to the other in a blink of an eye.

Post-rain and pre-rain.

Green Papaya, with tomatoes and sweet chili sauce, and organic romaine lettuce.  Both from the Waimea Valley Farmers Market.

With about 5 weeks left in our island adventure we look forward to continuing our daily walks, bike rides and dips in the ocean.